THE ZACHA Y
ADVOCATE& T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, M ay 21, 2025
Proposed change to boost City Council power gets mixed reviews in Zachary
Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
Early deadlines for holiday Any information being sent in for the May 28 editions of The Plainsman, The Democrat and The Watchman need to be sent by noon Thursday, May 22. Having a summer event? If you are hosting a summer camp, vacation Bible school or other event open to the public, send us the information to run in this space. Emails are zachary@theadvocate.com for the Zachary area and extra@theadvocate.com for the Felicianas.
Restaurant Week coming The Zachary Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Restaurant Week on June 8-14. Participating places include Brunch Junkie, Mami’s Mexican Restaurants, CC’s Coffee House, Café Phoenicia, El Mejor Mexican Restaurant, South Plains Food Company, The Depot Diner, Walk-On’s and Cajun Catch.
Festival announces music Downtown Live will present the third annual Zachary Really Hot Air Balloon Festival from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 8 and from 4 to 9 p.m. Aug. 9 at BREC Zachary Community Park, 20055 Old Scenic Highway. DJ Press Play will start things at 4 p.m. each day. On Aug. 8, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band will take the stage at 5:30 p.m. followed at 8 p.m. by Lauren Lee Band. On Aug. 9, two Louisiana acts will perform: Adam Leger at 5:30 p.m. and Thomas Cain at 8 p.m.
Seeking school items Rollins Place Elementary is seeking items for its donation closet. Requested items include shoes in sizes 13, 1, 2, 3, 4; backpacks, theme day items such as Dot Day, 100th day of school, etc.; coats; and sweaters. Make sure the items are clean and stain and rip free. The school has a drop-off bin in front of the library.
Celebrate retiring director A celebration for the retirement of Zachary High band director Jason Venable will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 24. It is a come and go event. Alumni and current students are invited to bring their instruments to play the fight song at 1:45 p.m. Bring photos and memories or email celebrating mrv@gmail.com.
Summer reading is coming Beginning June 1 through Aug. 15, the East Baton Rouge Parish Library will have free programs, workshops, story times, concerts and performances for all ages through the 2025 Summer Reading
ä See AROUND, page 3G
11TH YEAR, NO. 32
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BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
PHOTOS BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
Zachary Jazz Band director Donny Alexander strikes a directing pose May 10 in the Band of Blue Foundation’s Jazz and Pancakes fundraiser. In the coming school year Alexander will assume the role of Director of Bands with the retirement of longtime Band of Blue Director Jason Venable.
CHANGE IN DIRECTOR
Leadership changes on the horizon as Band of Blue plays on BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer
Jazz and pancakes were on the menu when Zachary High’s Band of Blue hit a proverbial high note concluding an active school year and starting a new chapter of leadership. The Band of Blue Foundation’s Jazz and Pancakes fundraiser, held May 10, gave families and community groups an opportunity to applaud and support multiple band ensembles. Retiring Band of Blue Director Jason Venable will be passing the baton to longtime jazz Junior drummer Xavion Fisher plays during the Band of Blue band director Donny Alexan- Foundation’s Jazz and Pancakes fundraiser. der, who expressed humility in stepping into the role once held by esteemed directors shoes that can absolutely nev- I’m home. This is where I grew like Venable and David Phil- er be filled,” Alexander said. ä See DIRECTOR, page 3G lips. “There’s some incredible “It is also humbling because
ä See COUNCIL, page 2G
Zachary council considers a ban on street parking for large vehicles Community news report
First employee of Zachary schools set for retirement BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
It’s hard to imagine the Zachary Community School District without Connie Aslin. As the receptionist at the district’s central office and the School Board’s secretary, Aslin has been there since the very beginning. In fact, she was the first person hired by the newly independent district in 2001 — before the school system was officially operational or even had a budget or a superintendent. For more than two decades, Aslin — known to most as Ms. Connie — has been the first person visitors see when they walk in the front door of the district’s central office. When people phone the district’s main line, it’s Aslin who warmly greets them and helps them get the information they need. She’s a fixture at School Board meetings, dutifully
Zachary council members are pondering an ordinance that would give them more authority over the city’s contracts — a move that would leave the mayor’s office with less say in business matters than has traditionally been the case. The ordinance was sponsored by Councilwoman Ambre DeVirgilio, and the council unanimously agreed May 13 to introduce it for consideration. It will be taken up again for possible changes and final adoption at a later meeting. DeVirgilio said her goal is to foster fiscal responsibility. She said she modeled her ordinance on East Baton Rouge Parish’s rules for contracts. “I’m doing this to put Zachary on its best foot forward,” she said. The council currently approves only a handful of types of contracts, such as those engaging outside attorneys for special counsel services. DeVirgilio’s ordinance would allow the mayor to continue to execute contracts that do not exceed $25,000. The mayor also could enter into contracts for professional services that do not cost more than $1,000 annually and in emergency situations. But council approval would be required for agreements over those amounts — as well as any that extend beyond one fiscal year, that create a new city program and, in some instances, that involve grants. The ordinance also calls for the text of contracts to be posted on the city website. Mayor David McDavid said he’s willing to send lengthier contracts to council members for their OK. But he’s not a fan of the other
PROVIDED PHOTO
Connie Aslin, longtime central office receptionist and secretary for the Zachary Community School Board, listens as board member David Dayton ä See SCHOOLS, page 2G speaks about working with her.
Drivers of semi trucks and other large vehicles could soon face a ban on parking their rigs on the streets of Zachary. The City Council introduced an ordinance May 13 that would prohibit street parking for big trucks, trailers, wreckers, buses and similar vehicles. Violators would have to pay a first-time fine of $250. Second offenses within one year of the first instance of street parking would cost $500, and third offenses $750. Councilman James Graves brought the ordinance, saying the matter has become a problem recently — yet it’s unclear what can be done under existing rules. “There’s nothing on the books” about this issue, he said. A lot of details still need to be ironed out before the ordinance can be adopted. Graves asked his colleagues for help deciding how the rules should be enforced and how long trucks would need to be parked on the street to trigger punishment. Graves said his constituents have been complaining to him about trucks parked on their streets. They’re fearful for their safety. “At night, coming down that road, I’ve got constituents worried about hitting that trailer, going underneath it,” he said.
ZAF names John Bradley Male Scholarship award winner Warren Brady ZACHARY SPORTS
John Bradley is the 2025 Zachary Athletic Foundation male scholarship winner and represents yet another outstanding student-athlete that grew up, was educated in and competed in sports at Zachary High School. Like his female counterpart Jazmine Patterson, Bradley is an outstanding student with a 4.7 GPA that puts him at fourth overall in his class. He was a four-year ZHS baseball
player that started his varsity career as a designated hitter his sophomore year. In his junior and senior seasons Bradley was the starting catcher for coach Jacob Fisher. Bradley was second team AllDistrict 4-5A as a junior and senior. Recently he was named to the LHSAA State All-Academic Composite Team. When Bradley was not making things happen on the diamond, he was a member of the National
Honor Society and part of Zachary High’s talented art program where he designed and created sets for the theater program. Outside of school, he has spent the past three years as a referee for the Legendz Sports Organization flag football league. In his essay, Bradley indicated that his journey was “filled with incredible victories, humbling
PROVIDED PHOTO BY MANDY BRADLEY
ä See BRADY, page 4G John Bradley